Kom El-Dekka Roman Theatre "The Roman Amphitheater"
Alexandria’s Cultural Heart Through the Ages
Located in the historic district of Kom El-Dekka in Alexandria, the Roman Theatre is one of the city’s most remarkable and well-preserved ancient monuments. Built in the early 4th century AD, this unique structure continued to be used well into the Islamic period, reflecting Alexandria’s long and layered history.
The theatre was originally designed in the shape of a horseshoe (U-shaped) auditorium and functioned as an Odeon during the Roman era—a hall dedicated to music performances, poetry recitations, and intellectual gatherings. Thanks to its architectural design, including the dome and orchestra area, the building provided excellent acoustics, making it an ideal space for listening and performance.
In its earliest phase, the theatre consisted of 16 seating rows with two main entrances from the north and south. During the Byzantine period, the structure underwent significant modifications: the number of rows was reduced to 13, and elegant private seating boxes were added for elite members of society. Colorful columns made of marble and granite were also introduced, transforming the building into a Bouleuterion—the official city council hall used for political meetings and public assemblies. At a later stage, the monument also served as a large educational hall, highlighting its continued importance in Alexandria’s civic life.
Architecturally, the inner walls of the theatre were constructed from limestone, while the outer walls combined limestone with red brick courses. The seating area was once paved with marble, and on both sides stand marble buttresses bearing Arabic graffiti inscriptions, a silent testimony to the site’s extended use across different historical eras.
The Roman Theatre of Kom El-Dekka was rediscovered by chance in 1960, during excavations conducted by a Polish archaeological mission searching for the lost tomb of Alexander the Great—an unexpected discovery that revealed one of Alexandria’s hidden cultural treasures.
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